The Sporting Rifle (Western Field, 1904)
Here is the first two articles of ten...
Western Field Vol 4-5, 1904 (I have vol 4, it MUST exist!)
PART I. (vol 4, No.2, Mar 1904 - page 149)
MANY mistakes are made by sportsmen in the selection of a rifle or hunting big game be cause of lack of a thorough appreciation of the main points of difference between the sporting rifle and the military arm. The invention of the jacketed bullet paved the way for the general adoption of smokeless powders, but a vast amount of experiment was necessary in order to adapt the weapons to the new conditions. On account of the great expense attendant upon this work, the initial experiments were conducted under governmental supervision and the natural result was the production of a military rifle. Taking this rifle as a basis, the private manufacturers then went to work, and, after making a few minor changes, recommended the weapons as suitable for hunting purposes.
After a lapse of eight or ten years we still find many hunters using long-range military cartridges for short range shooting at game. The modern military rifle must be, and is, a long-range rifle. It must be capable of placing twenty consecutive shots in a target six feet high and twelve feet wide at a range of 1,000 yards, under average conditions as to weather. To attain this result requires that the bullet shall be more than four calibers in length. This refers to the small-bore smokeless rifle, the black-powder military rifle being obsolete. The long bullet requires a steep pitch of rifling to give it sufficient rotary velocity to keep it point on, and the short twist produces excessive friction and heat and shortens the life of the barrel, besides requiring a steel-jacketed projectile, which is very expensive. As the long bullet is driven at a high velocity, 2,000 feet per second, it follows that the recoil will he particularly vicious unless a heavy weapon is adopted, and a heavy rifle is not a desirable hunting weapon, excepting in certain special cases where dangerous game is encountered.
These statements indicate that the best rifle for game shooting is the one that uses a short missile, and a further discussion of the subject will serve to emphasize the same fact.
The object of the sportsman is to kill the game quickly, and this is best accomplished by the employment of a projectile of comparatively large diameter or one that will expand on striking the game. Many devices have been tried to insure the lateral expansion of the head of the bullet upon impact, but it is believed that nothing that is absolutely reliable in this regard has yet been produced, on account of the variable resistance encountered by the bullet in striking different kinds of game or different parts of the same animal.
The uncertainty of the expansive feature makes it desirable that we use a bullet of sufficient diameter to produce the required shock in case it should fail to upset at all. The 6 mm. (.236 cal.) can not be regarded as a thoroughly reliable weapon for such game as the Virginia deer, although it gives a higher velocity (-'.500 f. s.) than any other rifle manufactured in America, and high velocity, generally, means killing power, for two reasons: first, the energy of a projectile is, amongst other factors, proportioned to the square of the velocity; and, second, the shock produced by the impact is greater with the higher velocity because a portion of the tissue of the animal becomes a projectile through direct collision, and its velocity will depend upon the velocity of the bullet with which it comes in collision. In the case of the 6 mm. bullet, if fired broadside at a deer, striking central and failing to upset at the head-on impact, it would make a very small hole and emerge at the opposite side retaining about 80 or 90 per cent of its energy. The penetration of the full-mantled bullet is 60 pine boards, each board being seven-eighths of an inch in thickness. Supposing that six boards offer as much resistance as a deer standing broadside, the .236 caliber rifle would shoot through ten deer standing alongside of each other, and would expend only 10 per cent of its energy on one deer. This illustration shows clearly how the sportsman may be deceived by overestimating the killing power of a small-bore rifle through judging it entirely from the energy of the projectile.
The 6.3 mm. (.256 cal.) rifle is open to the same objections but in a lesser degree. It is a fine military weapon and accurate for target shooting at 1,000 yards. The .30-30-160 is the smallest charge which may be considered suitable for game as large as the Virginia deer. A rifle or carbine to take this cartridge, with twenty-inch barrel, would weigh about six and one-half pounds—a handy weapon which a man of average strength could carry all day and use with precision at all times. The velocity of the 160-grain bullet is approximately 1,900 f. s., and its penetration is twelve boards for soft-point bullet. The length of bullet is 3.13 calibers, making it effective at the mid-ranges— say 500 to 600 yards —which is a much greater distance than the sportsman will care to fire at game. The velocity of recoil of the six and one-half-pound rifle is 7.3 feet per second, and the energy 5.4 foot-pounds, indicating that the weapon is a pleasant one to shoot, as the recoil is stopped in a space of one and one-half inches by the application of a shoulder pressure of 43 pounds.
If the military cartridge (.30-40-220) were used, the rifle should weigh eight and one-half pounds, giving a muzzle velocity of projectile of 1,960 f. s. and penetration of thirteen boards with soft-nose bullet. The velocity of recoil is 7.9 f. s. and energy 8.3 foot pounds, indicating the requirement of 66 pounds shoulder pressure to stop the recoil in a space of one and one-half inches. Such a gun is heavy to carry, slow in use, and has a distinctly unpleasant kick. It is powerful enough to kill an elephant, and a dangerous weapon to use in a thickly-settled country. The projectile is 4.1 calibers in length, giving it excellent qualities for target shooting at long range.
PART II. (vol 4, No.3, Apr 1904 - page 223-225)
THE “.32 special" is one of the most desirable of modern hunting arms. It is somewhat similar to the old .32-40-165, retaining all of the good qualities of that justly popular combination, and adding improvements which bring it down to date as a powerful smokeless weapon. The improvement in the gun consists of a nickel steel barrel capable of withstanding pressures generated by smokeless powder, and preventing it from wearing out rapidly when copper-jacketed bullets are used in it. The twist is one turn in sixteen inches, making it suitable for black powder and grooved leaden bullets, or smokeless powder and jacketed bullets, the standard weight of bullet in either case being 165 grains. The shell instead of being tapered is bottlenecked, presenting a cylindrical form inside for the perfect fitting of the bullet.
The black powder load for this rifle is the same as for the old .32-40, giving a muzzle velocity of 1,385 f. s, and a fairly good killing range of 250 yards (or more could the game be hit with any certainty with such a high curve bullet). The smokeless cartridge gives a muzzle velocity' of 2,000 f. s. and its killing power is twice that of the black powder cartridge, i. e., in all cases where the game would be standing in such position as to offer sufficient resistance to stop the bullet, such as shots at deer from the front or from the rear. In broadside shots the black and the smokeless cartridges would be nearly on an equality, the smokeless still holding the advantage of greater effect because of the greater shock always accompanying high velocity, and greater accuracy at unknown distances resulting from the much flatter trajectory.
The black powder cartridge for this weapon is useful for target practice, being cheaply produced and resulting in less wear in the gun. Supposing the rifle to weigh seven and a half pounds, then when firing the smokeless cartridge the velocity of recoil would he, theoretically, 7 f. s., and energy of recoil 5.7 foot pounds.
To stop the recoil in a space of one and a half inches would require a shoulder pressure of forty six pounds. Those hunters of large game who seriously object to heavy recoil would do well to investigate the qualities of this rifle, as with a moderate amount of recoil it is powerful enough to kill deer, caribou, elk, moose and bear at all ordinary hunting ranges.
The .33 calibre smokeless rifle handles a projectile weighing 200 grains, giving it a velocity of 2,050 feet per second, producing an energy of 1.868 foot pounds, and making it more deadly on large game than the .32 special, especially at ranges beyond 200 yards, the extra length of bullet being much in its favor by giving it the power to overcome the resistance of the air. This quality would be appreciated where long shots have to be made occasionally, as in antelope shooting on the plains.
A rifle of this calibre weighing seven and a half pounds would have a theoretical velocity of recoil of 8.7 f. s., and energy of recoil of 8.8 foot pounds. To stop the gun in a space of one and a half inches would require an average shoulder pressure of seventy pounds.
The .35 calibre smokeless rifle, as now made by the Winchester Arms Company, handles a jacketed bullet weighing 250 grains, and the charge of smokeless powder gives it a velocity of 2, 1 50 feet per second. This weapon was, until quite recently, the most powerful made in this country. The large diameter and high velocity are mostly accountable for the large amount of work which this bullet will do. The bullet is also a long one, giving it power to overcome the resistance of the air and making it very deadly at distances far beyond the ranges at which game is generally killed. The heavy bullet is an advantage in enhancing the penetrative power in the case of large, dangerous and thick-skinned game at short range. The energy of this bullet is 2,580 foot pounds, indicating that it would penetrate seven feet four inches into a material that would offer an average resistance of 350 pounds.
If the rifle weighs eight and a half pounds the velocity of recoil will be 9.9 f. s., and energy thirteen foot pounds, which is equivalent to saying that it will require a push of 104 pounds to stop the recoil of the gun in a space of one and a half inches.
Some men would object to such a heavy recoil on account of the discomfort and possible injury resulting from it. There is also, generally, a loss of accuracy in off-hand shooting when the recoil of the piece is very severe. This loss of accuracy results from several causes, such as " flinching," " bracing up," and the " spring," " jump," and " flip " of the weapon. This latter class of errors, pertaining to the gun, are minimized by making the weapon thick and strong at the grip, and fastening the wooden stock very rigidly to the metallic breech piece. These thick heavy grips, used by the majority of American rifle manufacturers, give the weapons a rather clumsy appearance when compared with some of the high grade double rifles made abroad; but it is believed by many that the greater rigidity and accuracy resulting from the American plan more than offsets the lack of beauty and graceful outline. One of the best fastenings consists of a long bolt traversing the entire length of the butt-stock, its large slotted head being concealed under the butt-plate and the forward end being screwed into the breech frame. By the application of a large screw driver the two parts can be forced together more tightly than can be attained by any other system of construction in use at the present time. The long bolt system is peculiarly well adapted to the use of the sportsman, as he can remove the stock at any time and put it back in the best possible shape, regardless of the condition of the wood, whether very dry or swelled with moisture, and this without the employment of any tool excepting a screw driver.
Although the .35 calibre is one of the most useful and desirable calibres, it has been almost wholly ignored by gun makers, with one notable exception. The Massachusetts Arms Company of Chicopee Falls, Mass., manufactured a .35 calibre rifle during the entire term of their corporate existence, probably thirty years. The Maynard rifle, fabricated by this firm, was a light, compact weapon and always popular with those hunters who were satisfied with a single loader. The .35 calibre was made with twenty-inch barrel for hunting, and twenty-six-inch for target shooting. The shell was charged with thirty grains of black powder and the semi-cylindrical bullet was much heavier than those generally used in the cap-lock rifles so much in vogue thirty years ago. As a result of the difference in the weights of the projectiles of the two classes of arms at that date, it sometimes happened that the little six-pound Maynards beat the ponderous muzzle-loaders at a range of forty rods or even less.
In more recent years a few fine target rifles were made in .35 calibre, by Horace Warner and others who were engaged in that class of work.
Since the general adaptation of smokeless powder to sporting weapons, the .35 calibre comes prominently to the front, as it is probably the most suitable size for long range shooting, especially target shooting: under the new rapid-fire system which practically bars black powder and large calibres. The recoil of the hunting rifle of this calibre, as now made by the Winchester Company, could be very materially reduced by reducing the weight of the bullet; and this change would also improve the velocity and lower the trajectory at short range; the general result being increased killing power on deer and smaller game, and increased accuracy at ranges within 200 yards. The bullet I have in mind would be a partly jacketed missile with soft point and weighing about 200 grains.
The regular Winchester shell, which is 2 13-32 inches in length, could be retained, and this with its standard charge of smokeless powder would produce a muzzle velocity of approximately 2,400 foot seconds, which is greater than that of any other strictly bunting rifle made in this country, or probably, in any country. The increased velocity would increase the mushrooming qualities of the bullet, thereby making it a quicker killer on ordinary game at short range, besides reducing the amount necessary to hold ahead on running game, and flatten the trajectory at ordinary game shooting ranges. What I have said in favor of a 200-grain bullet should not be construed as unfavorable to, or a criticism of, the standard 250-grain bullet which would show superiority at 500 to 600 yards range, also at short range in the case of thick skinned animals requiring the employment of a missile having great penetrative qualities. If it be a fact, as heretofore intimated, that the .35 calibre cartridge possesses special advantages, both for hunting purposes and for target shooting at various ranges, then it would seem to be desirable to provide several different lengths of projectiles suitable to fill these various requirements.
The 250-grain bullet is 3.22 calibres in length. A jacketed bullet for long range shooting should approximate 4 calibres in length. This long bullet would require a moderately short twist of rifling to keep it point on at ranges of 1,000 to 1,500 yards—say one turn in fifteen inches would be approximate, but the exact pitch to give best results could only be determined through experiment. Mathematicians who are experts in gunnery have formulated tables showing the proper twists for the various lengths of projectiles of different calibres, but these tables were adapted to black powder conditions, j. e.. to moderate velocities, and they require modification to meet the new conditions inaugurated by the general adoption of jacketed bullets and smokeless powders.
A .35 calibre rifle, using smokeless powder, and a jacketed bullet 4 calibres in length, with hollow lead point, would be an excellent weapon for seal shooting on the Pacific Coast, where long shots are the rule, and where it is often necessary to make shots at distances of a half to three-quarters of a mile. Such rifles should be provided with a telescopic sight of low power having a large field (say a magnifying power of eight diameters, with a tube one inch in diameter or seven diameters with a seven-eighth-inch tube) so as to get the maximum illumination. In case the seal shooter should desire a glass of higher power he should have it made up in a larger tube so as to preserve the illumination, which is a most excellent quality in a hunting glass as it assists, in a measure, in making shots when the light is poor. The telescope should be so mounted on the rifle that it could slide back and forth in the mountings, in this way doing away with the danger of being struck in the face by the rear end of the instrument through the recoil of the piece when fired- The sliding mechanism also relieves the mountings of severe strain, and makes it possible to make, and hold, very fine adjustments. Another advantage, in many cases, is that the telescope can be pushed forward away from the breach to facilitate cleaning, loading, etc. The telescope here described is not a very low power, but is called " low power " to distinguish it from the kind that are generally used for target shooting, at rest; the powers of which range from twelve to eighteen diameters, and which are not suitable for game shooting, although they are sometimes used for that purpose.
The main reason that the high-power telescope is unsuitable for hunting purposes is because its field is necessarily small, which makes it difficult to align it quickly with sufficient accuracy to include the image of the game within its field. A chance to fire a shot at game is often lost by consuming too much time in preparation.
If the .35 calibre 300-grain bullet were given an initial velocity of 1,900 f. s. its energy at 500 yards would be 1,063 foot pounds, and at 1,000 yards 415 foot pounds. The .35 calibre 250-grain bullet, which has an initial velocity of 2,1 50 f. s., has an energy of 1,064 foot pounds at 500 yards, and 314 foot pounds at 1 ,000 yards. While the energies of the two bullets are practically equal at mid-range, the 300-grain bullet has one-third more energy and killing power than the 250-grain bullet at 1,000 yards. The 200-grain bullet, with an initial velocity of 2,400 f. s., would have an energy of 461 foot pounds at 500 yards range; sufficient to kill game not larger than the common deer. An eight and a half-pound rifle for this cartridge would have a recoil of 10.7 foot pounds, requiring a shoulder pressure of sixty-five pounds to stop it in a space of two inches. The 250-grain bullet in a weapon of equal weight, producing the ballistic effects above noted, would produce a recoil of thirteen foot pounds, or seventy-eight pounds pressure over a space of two inches; while the 300-grain bullet with the velocity above suggested, in a gun of equal weight, would produce a recoil of 14.1 foot pounds, which could be stopped in a space of two inches by applying a force of eighty-eight pounds.
This latter weapon is only intended for shooting game at long range and would be unsuitable for any other purpose.
The .35 calibre rifle with 200 or 250-grain bullet would be a suitable weapon for killing the largest game in America for those who would not object to the recoil. The figures given above for recoil are obtained by the usual method of computation, and are probably less in every case than the actual results obtainable by careful experiment. Some actual measurements have been made and will be discussed later on.
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